Measurement device

ABSTRACT

A measurement device is provided. The measurement device comprises a ring-shaped base and multiple sensing units and a plurality of coils. The sensing units are disposed on and protruded from the inner circumferential surface of the ring-shaped base. Each sensing unit comprises a circumferential groove and an axial groove. The axial groove is connected to the circumferential groove. Each coil is surrounded within the circumferential groove and extended along the axial groove.

This is a Continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/869,597, filed Apr. 24, 2013, the subject matter of which is incorporated herein by reference. This application claims the benefits of Taiwan application Serial No. 101145944, filed Dec. 6, 2012 and Taiwan application Serial No. 102134886, filed Sep. 26, 2013, the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The disclosure relates in general to a measurement device, and more particularly to a measurement device having multiple sensing units.

BACKGROUND

Non-contact displacement sensor is a crucial element in the industrial rotor measurement system. Most displacement sensors are fixed on a base by screws. However, such assembly method often has large assembly error and leads to a decrease in measurement precision.

SUMMARY

According to one embodiment, a measurement device is provided. The measurement device comprises a ring-shaped base, a plurality of sensing units and a plurality of coils. The sensing units are disposed on and protruding the inner circumferential surface of the ring-shaped base, and each sensing unit comprises a circumferential groove and an axial groove. The axial groove is connected to the circumferential groove. Each coil is surrounded within the circumferential groove and passes through the axial groove to go out of the axial groove.

The above and other aspects of the disclosure will become better understood with regard to the following detailed description of the preferred but non-limiting embodiment(s). The following description is made with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows an assembly diagram of a measurement device according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 2 shows an explosion diagram of a measurement device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows an assembly diagram of a ring-shaped base and multiple sensing elements of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 shows a lateral view of a ring-shaped circuit board viewed along a direction V1 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 shows an explosion diagram of a measurement device according to another embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 6 shows an assembly diagram and a partially-enlarged view of a measurement device of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 shows another embodiment of the disclosure.

In the following detailed description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the disclosed embodiments. It will be apparent, however, that one or more embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are schematically shown in order to simplify the drawing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION First Embodiment

Referring to FIG. 1, an assembly diagram of a measurement device according to an embodiment of the disclosure is shown. In the present embodiment, the sensing unit is realized by a sensing element. The measurement device 100 comprises a ring-shaped base 110, two symmetrical sensing elements 120′, another two symmetrical sensing elements 120″ and a ring-shaped circuit board 130. In the present embodiment, the sensing elements are taken as sensing units. A shaft 140 passes through the ring-shaped base 110. When the shaft 140 rotates, the sensing elements 120′ and 120″ can measure displacement in two radial directions of the shaft 140 respectively.

Referring to FIG. 2, an explosion diagram of a measurement device of FIG. 1 is shown. The ring-shaped base 110 has four assembly holes 111′ and 111″, each of the assembly holes 111′ and 111″ radially penetrates the ring-shaped base 110. The quantity of assembly holes 111′ and 111″ is the same as that of the sensing elements 120′ and 120″. The sensing element 120′ is inserted into the assembly hole 111′, and the sensing element 120″ is inserted into the assembly hole 111″. Two assembly holes 111′ are symmetrically formed on the ring-shaped base 110, such that the sensing elements 120′ inserted therein are also disposed in a symmetrical manner. Another two assembly holes 111″ are symmetrically formed on the ring-shaped base 110, such that the sensing elements 120″ inserted therein are also disposed in a symmetrical manner. In the present embodiment, the two sensing elements 120′ can measure displacement in one of the radial dimension of the shaft 140, and another two sensing elements 120″ can measure displacement in the other one of the radial dimension of the shaft 140.

In the present embodiment, the quantity of sensing elements of the measurement device 100 is exemplified by two pairs. In another embodiment, the quantity of sensing elements can be one pair for measuring displacement in one single radial dimension of the shaft 140. In another embodiment, the quantity of sensing elements can be two or more than two pairs for measuring displacement in two radial dimensions of the shaft 140.

Two neighboring sensing elements 120′ and 120″ form an angle of 90 degrees with respect to the geometric center C1, such that the connecting line between two symmetrically sensing elements 120′ is perpendicular to that between another two symmetrical sensing elements 120″ for measuring displacement in two orthogonal radial directions of the shaft 140 (illustrated in FIG. 1).

Two symmetrically sensing elements 120′ form one pair of differential sensing elements, and another two symmetrical sensing elements 120″ form another pair of differential sensing elements, such that the influence on the sensing elements by temperature drift can be eliminated. In an embodiment, the sensing elements 120′ and 120″ are eddy-current sensing probe with high precision, high bandwidth and property impervious to surface cleanliness.

The ring-shaped base 110 comprises a radial surface 110 s 1, a protruding portion 112 and a ring-shaped body 114. The protruding portion 112 is disposed on the ring-shaped body 114 and projects from the radial surface 110 s 1, such that the ring-shaped circuit board 130 can be engaged with the outer edge of a side of the protruding portion 112.

The ring-shaped base 110 further has an outer circumferential surface 110 s 2, an inner circumferential surface 110 s 3 opposite to the outer circumferential surface 110 s 2 and four outer recesses 113. Each outer recess 113 is extended towards the inner circumferential surface 110 s 3 from the outer circumferential surface 110 s 2 without penetrating the ring-shaped base 110. Each of the sensing elements 120′ and 120″ is disposed in the corresponding outer recess 113. The sensing elements 120′ and 120″ can be tightly disposed in at least one of the outer recess 113 and the assembly hole (111′ and 111″). For example, the sensing elements 120′ and 120″ can all be disposed in the outer recess 113 or the assembly holes 111′ and 111″. Alternatively, a part of the sensing elements 120′ and 120″ can be disposed in the outer recess 113, and another part can be disposed in the assembly hole 111′ and/or 111″. The present embodiment of the disclosure does not restrict the disposition of the sensing elements and any disposition would do as long as the two sensing elements 120′ are disposed in a symmetric manner and another two sensing elements 120″ are also disposed in a symmetric manner.

As indicated in FIG. 2, each of the sensing elements 120′ and 120″ comprises a stud 121 and a positioning portion 122, wherein the stud 121 is inserted into the corresponding assembly hole (111′ and 111″). The positioning portion 122 is connected to the stud 121 and has a positioning surface 122 s. The ring-shaped base 110 has a positioning surface 110 s 4. The assembly holes 111′ and 111″ penetrate the ring-shaped base 110 from the positioning surface 110 s 4 of the ring-shaped base 110. The positioning portion 122 is positioned on the positioning surface 110 s 4 of the ring-shaped base 110 by the positioning surface 122 s. In the present embodiment, the positioning surface 122 s of the positioning portion 122 fits the positioning surface 110 s 4 of the ring-shaped base 110. In another embodiment, the positioning surface 122 s and the positioning surface 110 s 4 are curved surfaces matching each other.

The disposition positions of the sensing elements 120′ and 120″ are determined according to the distance D1 from the positioning surface 110 s 4 of the ring-shaped base 110 to the geometric center C1 of the ring-shaped base 110. In the present embodiment, the distance D1 from each positioning surface 110 s 4 of the ring-shaped base 110 to the geometric center C1 of the ring-shaped base 110 is substantially the same, such that the measurement precision of the sensing elements 120′ and 120″ can be increased.

Each of the sensing elements 120′ and 120″ has a circumferential groove 120 r 1, an axial groove 120 r 2. A coil 123 is surrounded within the circumferential groove 120 r 1, and is extended along and passes through the axial groove 120 r 2. The circumferential groove 120 r 1 is formed at one end of the stud 121, and the axial groove 120 r 2 is extended to the positioning portion 122 from the circumferential groove 120 r 1, such that after the sensing elements 120′ is disposed within the assembly hole 111′, the sensing elements 120″ is disposed within the assembly hole 111″, and the axial groove 120 r 2 can be exposed outside the ring-shaped base 110 as indicated in FIG. 3.

Referring to FIG. 3, an assembly diagram of a ring-shaped base and multiple sensing elements of FIG. 1 is shown. After the sensing elements 120′ is disposed in the assembly hole 111′ and the sensing elements 120″ is disposed in the assembly hole 111″, the axial groove 120 r 2 is exposed outside the ring-shaped base 110. After the coil 123 passes through the exposed axial groove 120 r 2, the coil 123 is electrically connected to the ring-shaped circuit board 130.

The ring-shaped base 110 further has four inner recesses 115. Each inner recess 115 is extended towards the outer circumferential surface 110 s 4 from the inner circumferential surface 110 s 3 without penetrating the ring-shaped base 110. After the sensing elements 120′ is disposed in the assembly hole 111′ and the sensing elements 120″ is disposed in the assembly hole 111″, one end of each of the sensing elements 120′ and 120″ is disposed in the corresponding inner recess 115. The inner recesses 115 provides an isolation space, which avoids the coil 123 within the circumferential groove 120 r 1 of each of the sensing elements 120′ and 120″ being too close to the ring-shaped base 110 and affecting the distribution of the magnetic field generated by the coil 123.

In the present embodiment, the ring-shaped circuit board 130 has two outlet holes 131′ and another two outlet holes 131″. The two outlet holes 131′ are symmetrically distributed with respect to the geometric center C2 of the ring-shaped circuit board 130, and another two outlet holes 131″ are symmetrically distributed with respect to the geometric center C2 of the ring-shaped circuit board 130. After the ring-shaped circuit board 130 is disposed on the ring-shaped base 110, the two outlet holes 131′ correspond to two sensing elements 120′ and another two outlet holes 131″ correspond to two sensing elements 120″, such that the coil 123 surrounding the sensing elements 120′ and 120″ is exposed from the corresponding outlet hole 131′ and 131″ nearby and connected to the ring-shaped circuit board 130. After each coil 123 is exposed from the corresponding axial groove 120 r 2, the coil 123 passes through the corresponding outlet hole 131′ or 131″ and is electrically connected to the ring-shaped circuit board 130. Also, the ring-shaped circuit board 130 has four screw holes 136 through which the screws pass for locking the ring-shaped circuit board 130 on the ring-shaped base 110.

Referring to both FIG. 3 and FIG. 4. FIG. 4 shows a lateral view of a ring-shaped circuit board viewed along a direction V1 of FIG. 3. The ring-shaped circuit board 130 comprises two first traces 132 and two second traces 133. One end 1321 of each first trace 132 is adjacent to one of the outlet holes 131′, and one end 1331 of each second trace 133 is adjacent to the other one of the outlet holes 131′. The other end 1322 of each first trace 132 is adjacent to the other end 1332 of each second trace 133. Similarly, the ring-shaped circuit board 130 further comprises two third traces 134 and two fourth traces 135. One end 1341 of each third trace 134 is adjacent to one of the outlet holes 131″, and one end 1351 of each fourth trace 135 is adjacent to the other one of the outlet holes 131″. The other end 1342 of each third trace 134 is adjacent to the other end 1352 of each fourth trace 135. In the present embodiment, the other end 1322 of the first trace 132, the other end 1332 of the second trace 133, the other end 1342 of the third trace 134 and the other end 1352 of the fourth trace 135 are adjacent to each other (in a centralized manner), such that the same electrical connection piece 150 can be connected to the terminal points of all traces at one time. In comparison to the distributed distribution of traces, the design of centralized distribution of the present embodiment of the disclosure enables the electrical connection piece 150 to be connected to the terminal points of all traces by a smaller area. Here, the electrical connection piece is such as a flexible circuit board or other suitable electrical connection piece.

The quantities of sensing elements (120′ and 120″), outer recesses 113, inner recesses 115 and assembly hole (111′ and 111″) are all exemplified by four pieces. In another embodiment, the quantities of sensing elements (120′ and 120″), outer recesses 113, inner recesses 115 and assembly holes (111′ and 111″) can all be smaller or larger than four pieces, and are not limited to even numbers.

Second Embodiment

Referring to FIG. 5, an explosion diagram of a measurement device according to another embodiment of the disclosure is shown. The measurement device 200 comprises a ring-shaped base 210, two symmetrical sensing units 220′, another two symmetrical sensing units 220″, a ring-shaped circuit board 230 and a plurality of coils 223. A shaft (not shown) passes through the ring-shaped base 210. When the shaft rotates, the sensing units 220′ and 220″ can measure displacements in two radial directions of the shaft respectively.

Each of the sensing units 220′ and 220″ comprises a pillar part 221 toward the geometric center C3 of the ring-shaped base 210, and each of the pillar part 221 is protruded from the inner circumferential surface 210 s 3 of the ring-shaped base 210. As indicated in FIG. 5, each of the circumferential grooves 220 r 1 is formed at one end of the pillar part 221, and each of the axial grooves 220 r 2 is extended to the inner circumferential surface 210 s 3 from the circumferential groove 220 r 1, such that the axial groove 220 r 2 has one end exposed to one side of the ring-shaped base 210. In the present embodiment, one end of the axial groove 220 r 2 is exposed to the radial surface 210 s 1 of the ring-shaped base 210.

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, the distance D3 from each of the circumferential grooves 220 r 1 to the geometric center C3 of the ring-shaped base 210 is substantially the same, such that the measurement precision of the sensing units 220′ and 220″ can be increased.

Referring to both FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, the measurement device 200 comprises a plurality of electrical connection plugs 280′ and 280″, which being disposed on the radial surface 210 s 1 and adjacent to the axial grooves 220 r 2. One of the coils 223 is exposed from the corresponding axial groove 220 r 2 and surrounds one of the electrical connection plugs 280′ and 280″.

In the present embodiment, the ring-shaped circuit board 230 has two outlet holes 231′ and another two outlet holes 231″. The two outlet holes 231′ are symmetrically distributed with respect to the geometric center C4 of the ring-shaped circuit board 230, and another two outlet holes 231″ are symmetrically distributed with respect to the geometric center C4 of the ring-shaped circuit board 230. After the ring-shaped circuit board 230 is disposed on the ring-shaped base 210, the two outlet holes 231′ correspond to two electrical connection plugs 280′ and another two outlet holes 231″ correspond to two electrical connection plugs 280′, such that the coils 223 surrounding the electrical connection plugs 280′ and 280″ are exposed from the corresponding outlet holes 231′ and 231″ nearby and connected to the ring-shaped circuit board 230, as shown in FIG. 6.

Referring FIG. 5, the ring-shaped circuit board 230 comprises two first traces 232 and two second traces 233. One end 2321 of each first trace 232 is adjacent to one of the outlet holes 231′, and one end 2331 of each second trace 233 is adjacent to the other one of the outlet holes 231′. The other end 2322 of each first trace 232 is adjacent to the other end 2332 of each second trace 233. Similarly, the ring-shaped circuit board 230 further comprises two third traces 234 and two fourth traces 235. One end 2341 of each third trace 234 is adjacent to one of the outlet holes 231″, and one end 2351 of each fourth trace 235 is adjacent to the other one of the outlet holes 231″. The other end 2342 of each third trace 234 is adjacent to the other end 2352 of each fourth trace 235. In the present embodiment, the other end 2322 of the first trace 232, the other end 2332 of the second trace 233, the other end 2342 of the third trace 234 and the other end 2352 of the fourth trace 235 are adjacent to each other (in a centralized manner), such that the same electrical connection piece can be connected to the terminal points of all traces at one time in a similar way shown in FIG. 4.

Also, the ring-shaped base 210 and the ring-shaped circuit board 230 has (a plurality of) corresponding screw holes 216 and 236 through which the screws pass for locking the ring-shaped circuit board 230 on the ring-shaped base 210.

The quantities of sensing units (220′ and 220″) are exemplified by four pieces. In another embodiment, the quantities of sensing units (220′ and 220″) can all be smaller or larger than four pieces, and are not limited to even numbers.

Referring to FIG. 7, in the present embodiment, the ring-shaped base and the sensing units are integrated design and manufactured, such as being manufactured once by using injection molding process. In one embodiment, the sensing units 220′ and 220″ are eddy-current sensing probes.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the disclosed embodiments. It is intended that the specification and embodiments be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope of the disclosure being indicated by the following claims and their equivalents. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A measurement device, comprising: a ring-shaped base comprising a plurality of assembly holes symmetrically arranged around a circumferential surface of the ring-shaped base; a plurality of sensing elements disposed on and protruded from an inner circumferential surface of the ring-shaped base, and each of the sensing elements comprising a stud having a circumferential groove formed at a first end of the stud and an axial groove connected to the circumferential groove and extending to a second end of the stud opposite the first end of the stud; and a plurality of coils surrounding the sensing elements; wherein each of the coils is wound within the circumferential groove of the stud of a corresponding one of the sensing elements and has coil leads passing through the axial groove to go out of the axial groove at the second end of the stud; wherein each stud is inserted into a corresponding one of the assembly holes of the ring-shaped base.
 2. The measurement device according to claim 1, wherein each sensing element comprises a positioning portion connected to the second end of the stud and having a positioning surface for positioning the positioning portion on the ring-shaped base.
 3. The measurement device according to claim 2, wherein each positioning surface is a plane or a curved surface.
 4. The measurement device according to claim 1, wherein the ring-shaped base has a plurality of positioning surfaces, each assembly hole penetrating the ring-shaped base through a corresponding one of the positioning surfaces.
 5. The measurement device according to claim 4, wherein any of the positioning surface of the positioning portion and the positioning surface of the ring-shaped base is a plane or a curved surface.
 6. The measurement device according to claim 4, wherein a distance from each positioning surface of the ring-shaped base to a geometric center of the ring-shaped base is substantially the same.
 7. The measurement device according to claim 2, wherein each axial groove is extended to the positioning portion from the circumferential groove and exposed outside the ring-shaped base, and the coil leads pass through the exposed axial grooves.
 8. The measurement device according to claim 1, further comprising: a ring-shaped circuit board disposed on the ring-shaped base.
 9. The measurement device according to claim 8, wherein the ring-shaped circuit board has a plurality of outlet holes, and the coil leads of each coil pass through a corresponding one of the outlet holes and are electrically connected to the ring-shaped circuit board.
 10. The measurement device according to claim 9, wherein the ring-shaped circuit board comprises two first traces and two second traces, one end of each first trace is adjacent to one of the outlet holes, one end of each second trace is adjacent to another one of the outlet holes, and the other end of each first trace is disposed adjacent to the other end of each second trace.
 11. The measurement device according to claim 8, wherein the ring-shaped base comprises a radial surface and a protruding portion projecting from the radial surface, and the ring-shaped circuit board is engaged with the protruding portion.
 12. The measurement device according to claim 1, wherein the ring-shaped base has an outer circumferential surface and a plurality of outer recesses, each outer recess is extended towards the inner circumferential surface from the outer circumferential surface without penetrating the ring-shaped base, and one end of each sensing element is disposed within a corresponding one of the outer recesses.
 13. The measurement device according to claim 1, wherein the ring-shaped base has an outer circumferential surface and a plurality of inner recesses, each inner recess is extended towards the outer circumferential surface from the inner circumferential surface without penetrating the ring-shaped base, and one end of each sensing element is located within a corresponding one of the inner recesses.
 14. The measurement device according to claim 1, wherein two of the sensing elements are symmetrically disposed on the ring-shaped based relative to each other, and another two of the sensing elements are symmetrically disposed on the ring-shaped based relative to each other.
 15. A measurement device, comprising: a ring-shaped base; a plurality of sensing elements disposed on an inner circumferential surface of the ring-shaped base, each sensing element comprising: a pillar part having a first end protruding from the inner circumferential surface toward a geometric center of the ring-shaped base, the pillar part comprising a circumferential groove formed at the first end of the pillar part and an axial groove connected to the circumferential groove and extending to the inner circumferential surface such that one end of the axial groove is exposed to one side of the ring-shaped base; a plurality of coils surrounding the sensing elements; wherein each of the coils is wound within the circumferential groove of the pillar part of a corresponding one of the sensing elements and has coil leads passing through the axial groove to go out of the axial groove at the one side of the ring-shaped base.
 16. The measurement device according to claim 15 further comprising a plurality of electrical connection plugs disposed on the one side of the ring-shaped base, each electrical connection plug adjacent to a corresponding one of the axial grooves, wherein the coil leads are exposed from the corresponding axial grooves and electrical connected to the adjacent electrical connection plug. 